Quiet! There's a Canary in the Library

by Don Freeman

Cary knows what she would do if she were the librarian—she'd invite all the animals into the library and share her favorite books with lions, bears, peacocks, and monkeys. But the trouble is, not all animals get along with each other, and that's where Cary's trouble begins. . . . Viking is delighted to reissue this Don Freeman classic about a little girl whose wild imagination gets the best of her. With rollicking illustrations, a rib-tickling story, and a setting that will have special appeal for librarians, Freeman's work comes to life again in this hilarious read-aloud.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Fiction, Storytime, Fantasy, Books About Books

48 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1969

About the author

Don Freeman was a painter, printmaker, cartoonist, children's book author, and illustrator. He was born in San Diego, California, attended high school in Missouri, and later moved to New York City where he studied etching with John Sloan.
Frequent subjects included Broadway theatre, politics, and the circus. He was also a jazz musician, and the brother of circus entrepreneur Randy Freeman.

Reviews

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This caught my eye when I was in the library today so I grabbed it and read it. It is cute. A girl who loves the library goes in one Saturday morning and starts daydreaming an adventure in the library. It is cute and while dated in terms of clothing, isn't much dated otherwise....other than the bun on the female librarian....sigh. I likely wouldn't have used it for story time with so many newer titles available but I'd remember it for kids who just like to hang around the library or who are daydreamers.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do like the matter-of-fact multiculturalism in Freeman's stories, especially considering when they were written. The girl's hair is strange, though, and even stranger than it seems at first because it keeps changing around. Bottom line, though: just as cute and funny as the blurb would have you believe.
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This time I noticed that the characters are even more diverse than I realized, as the librarian has warm brown skin, and a boy has ebony colored skin. But again, it's just the way it is, an ideal world to inspire us and our children to help to create & enjoy.

I guess I should mention the zoo aspect, too, for families who haven't yet had that discussion about exploitation of animals vs. preservation of certain species....

[Evelyn]

I like the connection this book makes between reading and imagination. Don Freeman appealed to me as a child and to my own kids, as well

[Tracy Schillemore · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are a lot of animals in this book which I enjoyed. It is kind of funny because the little girl in it talks old fashioned. Kinda weird.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember this book from when I was a kid, bit had forgotten all about it until I saw it on a display shelf at my library

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this many times as a kid and had forgotten all about it until my sister posted about it! Delightful.

[Katherine C. Hirstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5
Childhood favorite.

[Lex’s Library · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was a little underwhelming for me, but I did like the illustrations of this! I think children will love seeing all the animals mentioned throughout the story, and relate to Cary’s active imagination!

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOL!!! Those of you who know my knickname at work is Carrie Canary will understand why this is so funny. A little red haired girl goes to the library every Saturday, and as she reads her book she dreams up the way she would run the library if she were in charge. The ending is absolutely perfect.
Thanks to Sadie for leaving this precious book in my locker.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun book about a little girl imagining she ran the library and all the animals who would come and visit to read books. It's silly and fun, and has Don Freeman's cute illustrations. We really enjoyed reading this book together.

[Aletheia Ubben · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quirky, light, clever story that captures the imaginings of a child. (Aletheia's review: I helped hold the book! However Mom was slower than usual at turning the pages...)

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oooh, what an unexpected treat! I've just found a new book by Don Freeman to review.

He was one of my very favorite authors and illustrators for picture books; how delightful to read "Quiet!"

Heroine Cary demonstrates beautiful manners in this saga, and also tact beyond her years.

But eventually the rumpus gets beyond her control. Yet the ending is happy... and the final illustration is a particular delight.

LET'S ALSO NOTE

Cary's story within a story is really a fantasy. Talk about having a vivid imagination! Talking about it quietly, because libraries should be quiet places. Agreed.

[Amy Oelschlaeger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don Freeman did an excellent job writing a creative picture story book for children. Most children know animals are not allowed in the library, but Freeman creates a character Cary who imagined of a day where she would invite all animals to come to the library. Of course nothing good could come from this. The illustrations are simple, and the author only put a few worlds on each page. I enjoyed this book because it was a cute, easy, and creative read.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fanciful story in which a young girl imagines herself as the librarian and invites a gaggle of animals into the library to read. Everything is going well, until some mischievous mice set off a roaring, whinnying, mooing chain reaction. Can the girl get her library under control?
I was a little weirded out that the text kept referring to "animals and birds." Birds ARE animals!

[Donna Mork · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little girl enjoys the library. One day she imagines being the librarian and setting up a day where only animals are allowed. Things get out of hand in her imagination and she has to have the canary sing them all out of the library. She decides to check a book about birds out and "flies" home.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young girl dreams of what she would do if she were the librarian - invite animals into the library for a day to enjoy the stories! Signature Freeman illustrations have a wonderful diverse cast of kids. A good group read aloud.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know how I haven't come across this picture book before! This would be fun to share with a preschool or kindergarten class visiting the library. And it make a good companion to a manuscript I've written :)

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found this one while browsing the shelves at the Barnesville library when Kyla and Ian were babies. Lesser known Don freeman. A favorite.

[Amelia G · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOOOOOOVE this book!

[Kathleen Meacham · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely story for the proper age group. Encourages a strong imagination.

[Jennifer Bast · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was charmed by the story and illustrations. A short and sweet read that I would love to read to my preschoolers.

[Shawna Ridgley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute story about the library!! Love the illustrations.

[Marcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagination is a powerful thing!!!

[Sutton Eleanora · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why are the mice not allowed?!? They are animals too!

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

While visiting the library a girl imagines what it would be like to have a day to allow only animals and birds into a library of her own. It starts out well with canary, lion, bear, and more, until some mice come in. Funny story with great illustrations.

[Karissa Kelly]

Quiet! There's a Canary in the Library is a story about a girl named Cary who goes to the library every Saturday. As she's reading her book, she imagines what she'd do if she was the librarian. First, she would have a animal and bird day. All the animals could come in and read whatever book they wanted. She'd let in a canary, lion, elephant, porcupine, mice, and many more animals. However, when the mice came in they scared the elephant which made the porcupine touch the lion who was extremely ticklish, so he began roaring. Then chaos took place. All the animals were going crazy. Not knowing what to do, Cary asked the Canary to help, so she sang a song. Cary yells for QUIET!, and all the animals listen and so does the boy sitting next her because she had accidently said quiet out loud. Embarrassed, Cary goes and gets another book with a canary on it because she knows that's her true friend.

Quiet! There's a Canary in the Library was such a good book. Don Freeman writes and illustrates Cary and the animals so well that you get swept into the story a d feel like you're there. I think this book is really cute and really helps develop an imagination.

I recommend reading this book in a classroom setting or just for fun. If you happen to be talking about libraries this could help students learn about the proper manners for a library.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally read Dec 2014: Whenever I think of Don Freeman, I always think of Corduroy the bear (which I've somehow never read), although I did enjoy his book "Fly High, Fly Low". This book was adorable. Although a little long, I think it would be great for a toddler storytime on reading or the library. Cary is a young girl who loves going to the library and picking out books to read, recommended by Mrs. Curtis the librarian. One day, as she is reading a book about the zoo, she imagines that she is a librarian. The first thing she does is have a day that all the animals and birds can visit the zoo. My son loved naming all the different animals in this book and liked that they all liked to read too. Pandemonium almost breaks out when some mice come in the library, but the day is saved by a canary. After accidently shouting, Cary realizes that she is still in the library and picks out a book to read at home. Recommended for ages 2-6, 4 stars.

Re-read April 21, 2022: I'm doing an older kids storytime on books and reading and thought this would be a great addition as most people haven't heard of it. I would actually recommend it for slightly older kids due to the length, maybe 3-7, 4 stars.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a precious book! You can tell it was written a few years ago as it's not the 'same ole same ole' that most of the newer books are. Mr Freeman does a wonderful job on the storyline and the illustrations. A little girl goes to the library (which encourages children to go and enjoy the library) and visits with the nice librarian and then sits with a book with some other boys just enjoying being there. Her imagination takes off with her and she imagines she's the librarian and she has an animal and bird day inviting all animals there. The story goes through each zoo animal as they enter the library exposing the reader to all sorts of animals from lion, elephant, tiger, etc and at the end MICE!!! excitement pursues in the library and Cary helps to settle everyone down especially with the help of the singing canary. My 3 year old granddaughter really enjoyed this book with me.

[Katie]

I thought this book was so cute and funny. It is about a little girl who is reading a book about a zoo at the library. She is sitting at a table with two boys, and as she is reading her imagination goes wild. She gets the idea to have a library for zoo animals. At first all of the animals are being quiet and reading like they should be. Then a few mouse run in, and they cause chaos. She is trying to get everything under control when the canary beings singing. All of the animals start listening to the canary sing, and they leave the zoo library. She accidentally talks out loud and says to be quiet, and one of the boys at the table says that he wasn't making any noise. She is very embarrassed, and she gets another book before she leave the library. I loved this book because it shows how awesome kid's imagination is, and it also teaches children the proper way to behave in a library.

[Jayna · Rating 4 out of 5]

All ages

A little girl imagines what it would be like to be a librarian and to have a bird and animal day at the library. At first everything is going well and all of the animals are behaving themselves, but after the arrival of a group of mice all of the animals are agitated. Luckily a canary sings to the animals, calming them down and Cary tells them it is time to go home.

You could use this book for a story time about libraries or zoo animals. You could also talk to the children about what they dream of being when they grow up, just like the little girl in the story.